Barely a week after touching down in San Jose, Quakes Designated Player signing Vako Qazaishvili trotted out for his club debut in a 4-1 friendly victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday night. Vako was joined as a second half substitute by Quincy Amarikwa, Marc Pelosi, and Fatai Alashe, all returning from long-term injury absences.
The Quakes notched early goals from Victor Bernardez and Chris Wondolowski to help seal a comfortable win in a subdued match against their German Bundesliga opponents.
Coach Chris Leitch managed the match in thirty-minute increments, making a round of substitutes at each interval. The home side dominated the opening period with most of their starters getting the nod and it only took twelve minutes for Bernardez to open the scoring with a gorgeous top-corner header from Jahmir Hyka’s corner.
Shea Salinas then volleyed wide and Chris Wondolowski made it two from the penalty spot after Hyka was shoved in the box. Frankfurt were unfortunately sloppy from the back, likely borne from their apathetic approach to the friendly, which allowed the Quakes to boss the midfield.
Leitch brought on all five Reno 1868 call-ups and Lindo Mfeka in the first round of substitutions and their introduction nearly heralded a third goal when Darwin Espinal broke away down the left. The attacking midfielder’s low effort was kick-saved by Lukas Hradecky, who also denied Shea Salinas’ timid shot from the rebound.
Frankfurt traded blows in the final moments of the half, hammering the crossbar from a golden opportunity just six yards out, but they didn’t get on the scoresheet until Danny Blum pulled one back from close range in the closing minutes.
By then, the Quakes had already assembled an impressive four-goal cushion as Salinas’ strike was deflected into the back of the net and Amarikwa coolly converted from the penalty spot.
PHOTO: ISI PHOTOS